My letter on media bias appear in the Ottawa Citizen today (Others run for mayor, Ottawa Citizen, Letters-to-the-Editor, September 30, 2010). A telephone call from the editor resulted in a decision to make a small editorial change. The change actually enhances the letter’s message but one comment made by the editor serves to confirm the accuracy of my message.
The editor believes that the Citizen is accurate in its reporting, but that the decision to focus on the two leading candidates is an editorial decision because it is difficult to cover all 20. Isn’t this the point I was making? Others have important views that deserve to be reported on so that voters are well informed. One of the observations in my letter is that while other candidates made important points the article concentrated on the ongoing and irrelevant interchange between Watson and O’Brien that has plagued this campaign so-far.
Another article that appears in today’s Ottawa Citizen serves to confirm the biased reporting that I am referring to (A slow day on the hustings for mayoral candidates, Joanne Chianello and Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, September 30, 2010). While there is brief mention of some other candidates, including the other lead contender Clive Doucet, the article focuses on “the two front runners,” Watson and O’Brien. It appears that instead of keeping readers well informed the editorial staff is suggesting who we should be voting for.
Showing posts with label Ecology Ottawa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ecology Ottawa. Show all posts
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Holding the urban boundary and other council debates
Yesterday (Feb 24) council voted not to revisit their earlier compromise decision to accommodate a 222 hectare change in the urban boundary rather than by the 842 hectares originally recommended by city staff. The vote was quite decisive 17 for and 3 against. Dissenting votes were registered by Mayor O’Brien and Councillors Hunter and Thompson.
Unfortunately I confused local residents in my community last evening when passing on details of the decision. During the CBC NEWS: OTTAWA 6:00 pm TV news broadcast Hannah Thibedeau reporting live from City Hall, identified councillor Peter Hume as one of the three dissenting votes. This was very disturbing as Hume had previously indicated to residents that he and other councillors were working not to revisit the decision. Also it was Councillor Hume’s motion to defend council’s orignal decision. There was considerable relief when the situation was clarified.
The Hold the Line rally outside city hall at noon was well attended, especially considering the weather. There were some excellent speakers. Special thanks to members of Our Ottawa and Ecology Ottawa for organizing this event. I noted a couple of councillors in the audience. It is disappointing that more members of city council did not take the time to hear the opinions of citizens of Ottawa on this issue. It will be a subject of much further discussion once OMB becomes involved.
During the morning session of council various motions to audit or review OC Transpo’s operations, organization and projects were debated. They eventually supported a motion by Councillor Eli El-Chantiry that the American Public Transit Association (APTA) conduct a peer review of OC Transpo's bus programs and strategies, including areas such as bus operations, customer service, staffing, training and recruitment. Auditor general Alain Lalonde will examine the review panel's work and assess its recommendations.
I was disappointed by Coucillor Alex Cullen’s comments on the OC Transpo issue. He went to some lengths detailing various individual audits of particular projects, services and operations that have taken place over the past few years. However, it is many years since a full audit of this operation has taken place and we are right to expect excellence in service and operations from them. I do not understand why as chair of Transit Committee he finds it necessary to defend OC Transpo.
Unfortunately I confused local residents in my community last evening when passing on details of the decision. During the CBC NEWS: OTTAWA 6:00 pm TV news broadcast Hannah Thibedeau reporting live from City Hall, identified councillor Peter Hume as one of the three dissenting votes. This was very disturbing as Hume had previously indicated to residents that he and other councillors were working not to revisit the decision. Also it was Councillor Hume’s motion to defend council’s orignal decision. There was considerable relief when the situation was clarified.
The Hold the Line rally outside city hall at noon was well attended, especially considering the weather. There were some excellent speakers. Special thanks to members of Our Ottawa and Ecology Ottawa for organizing this event. I noted a couple of councillors in the audience. It is disappointing that more members of city council did not take the time to hear the opinions of citizens of Ottawa on this issue. It will be a subject of much further discussion once OMB becomes involved.
During the morning session of council various motions to audit or review OC Transpo’s operations, organization and projects were debated. They eventually supported a motion by Councillor Eli El-Chantiry that the American Public Transit Association (APTA) conduct a peer review of OC Transpo's bus programs and strategies, including areas such as bus operations, customer service, staffing, training and recruitment. Auditor general Alain Lalonde will examine the review panel's work and assess its recommendations.
I was disappointed by Coucillor Alex Cullen’s comments on the OC Transpo issue. He went to some lengths detailing various individual audits of particular projects, services and operations that have taken place over the past few years. However, it is many years since a full audit of this operation has taken place and we are right to expect excellence in service and operations from them. I do not understand why as chair of Transit Committee he finds it necessary to defend OC Transpo.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Hold the Line
Hold the Line was the theme for the Coalition for a Sustainable Ottawa’s noon-hour rally at the Human Rights Monument on Elgin Street today (Tues. May 12). Will Murray, an Ottawa lawyer organized the event in cooperation with Ecology Ottawa. The issue is Ottawa city council’s current agenda to amend the official land-use plan by increasing the urban boundary by nearly 850 hectares, much of which will eventually be occupied by single family dwellings.
The original plan amendment proposal and the modifications that are currently being debated were originally put forward by city staff. The opposition that now has emerged urges council to opt for zero land for suburban expansion with a focus on new development within the existing urban areas of the city. It is argued, rightly, that suburban expansion is unsustainable both environmentally and financially.
A number of like minded councillors attended the rally today as well as supporters from political parties, Sierra Club of Canada, the Raging Grannies and representatives from different communities across the city.
With respect to city staff, that do the background research and craft the Official Plan and amendments, it should be noted that they act based entirely on directions from city council. They actually do a pretty thorough job but a majority of council decided that an urban boundary expansion that would accommodate projected demand for single family dwellings was the way to go.
The Coalition for a Sustainable Ottawa is advocating a mix of housing development. Murray notes that distant suburbs have an environmental cost and are costly to maintain with services such as water, sewers public transit.
The original plan amendment proposal and the modifications that are currently being debated were originally put forward by city staff. The opposition that now has emerged urges council to opt for zero land for suburban expansion with a focus on new development within the existing urban areas of the city. It is argued, rightly, that suburban expansion is unsustainable both environmentally and financially.
A number of like minded councillors attended the rally today as well as supporters from political parties, Sierra Club of Canada, the Raging Grannies and representatives from different communities across the city.
With respect to city staff, that do the background research and craft the Official Plan and amendments, it should be noted that they act based entirely on directions from city council. They actually do a pretty thorough job but a majority of council decided that an urban boundary expansion that would accommodate projected demand for single family dwellings was the way to go.
The Coalition for a Sustainable Ottawa is advocating a mix of housing development. Murray notes that distant suburbs have an environmental cost and are costly to maintain with services such as water, sewers public transit.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Ecology Ottawa Petitions Against More Roads and Queensway Widening
I received the message below from a member of Greenspace-Alliance. To receive information updates contact the list admin: green-news-owner@greenspace-alliance.ca. For information on Ecology Ottawa, go to: http://www.ecologyottawa.ca/index.php
From Ecology Ottawa:
Here's a riddle for you: What's the one thing you can do to destroy farmland and natural landscapes, help put summer temperatures through the roof, increase pollution in local rivers, send more Ottawans to hospital emergency rooms, and bring the city closer to bankruptcy, all at the same time?
Simple. Build a new road.
Road building and expansion in Ottawa has gotten out of control. Despite growing public health threats from smog and global warming, the city's deepening fiscal crisis, and the lip service councillors pay to the importance of smart growth and public transit, city council continues to approve one new road after another. The city website currently lists no less than 12 road construction and widening projects, but it can barely afford to maintain the roads we already have.
Mayor Larry O'Brien has already stated that when council sits down this year to grapple with the challenge of balancing the city budget, cuts to services are inevitable. Before they start slashing funding or increasing user fees for services that actually improve the health and sustainability of our communities, our councillors should be cutting the budget for new roads and road widening -- to zero.
With your help, we can send a strong message to city council that Ottawa residents want better public transit, cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure -- not more roads. Sign the petition at http://www.ecologyottawa.ca/take-action/sign-on/index.php. Please tell as many people as possible to also sign!
Then mark your calendars for a weekend of fun outdoor events with Ecology Ottawa on July 25 and 26. We'll kick off the weekend on Friday evening with a screening of "Who Killed the Electric Car", in Dundonald Park at 9 pm (Somerset St. West, between Bay and Lyon). On Saturday, we'll host a barbeque featuring vegetarian-friendly food, live music, prizes, and games for the kids, from 2 to 5 pm in Central Park (in the Glebe, at Clemow and >>Bank). Hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Graham Saul
Chair, Ecology Ottawa
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED
Speak out to the province against Queensway widening
From the Queensway Coalition: A decision on Queensway widening could be made by the province soon. Now is the time to write to the Ministry of the Environment in support of the various "bump-up" challenges and remind the Minister of the community concern over the potential widening of the highway and community desire for an honest assessment of more sustainable transportation alternatives. See more details and get the e-mail address to write to at www.queenswaycoalition.org/QW.html
From Ecology Ottawa:
Here's a riddle for you: What's the one thing you can do to destroy farmland and natural landscapes, help put summer temperatures through the roof, increase pollution in local rivers, send more Ottawans to hospital emergency rooms, and bring the city closer to bankruptcy, all at the same time?
Simple. Build a new road.
Road building and expansion in Ottawa has gotten out of control. Despite growing public health threats from smog and global warming, the city's deepening fiscal crisis, and the lip service councillors pay to the importance of smart growth and public transit, city council continues to approve one new road after another. The city website currently lists no less than 12 road construction and widening projects, but it can barely afford to maintain the roads we already have.
Mayor Larry O'Brien has already stated that when council sits down this year to grapple with the challenge of balancing the city budget, cuts to services are inevitable. Before they start slashing funding or increasing user fees for services that actually improve the health and sustainability of our communities, our councillors should be cutting the budget for new roads and road widening -- to zero.
With your help, we can send a strong message to city council that Ottawa residents want better public transit, cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure -- not more roads. Sign the petition at http://www.ecologyottawa.ca/take-action/sign-on/index.php. Please tell as many people as possible to also sign!
Then mark your calendars for a weekend of fun outdoor events with Ecology Ottawa on July 25 and 26. We'll kick off the weekend on Friday evening with a screening of "Who Killed the Electric Car", in Dundonald Park at 9 pm (Somerset St. West, between Bay and Lyon). On Saturday, we'll host a barbeque featuring vegetarian-friendly food, live music, prizes, and games for the kids, from 2 to 5 pm in Central Park (in the Glebe, at Clemow and >>Bank). Hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Graham Saul
Chair, Ecology Ottawa
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED
Speak out to the province against Queensway widening
From the Queensway Coalition: A decision on Queensway widening could be made by the province soon. Now is the time to write to the Ministry of the Environment in support of the various "bump-up" challenges and remind the Minister of the community concern over the potential widening of the highway and community desire for an honest assessment of more sustainable transportation alternatives. See more details and get the e-mail address to write to at www.queenswaycoalition.org/QW.html
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